Russell Wilson ‘trains’ Alaska Air employees

Just as he’s getting ready for the NFL season, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has apparently been hard at work in his other role: “chief football officer” for Alaska Airlines.

Meanwhile, Braun also unveiled a new Wilson-themed campaign Thursday.

We’ll start with Alaska Airlines, which just released the first of three commercials that Wilson shot with 40 production crew members and 13 actual employees on a Seattle middle school field “one hot summer day not long ago.”

In the ad, Wilson runs the Alaska employees through drills that combine football and airline skills: high knees with suitcases, around cones with a stroller, dodging tackling dummies with lost teddy bears. In a classroom, the employees identify routes: Albuquerque, New Orleans, Atlanta, Cancun.

The one part that may hit a little too close to reality for comfort comes near the end, where flight attendants hurl bags of snacks at “passengers” painted on boards attached to golf carts. Alaska Airlines calls this “#snackuracy” in a blog post.

Do they really want to remind us what’s happened to airline food service?

The commercials are scheduled to air on TV stations from Bellingham to Vancouver, U.S.A, starting Thursday.

“Whether on or off the field, I believe the difference between ‘good’ and ‘great’ is determined by your inner belief,” Wilson said in a Braun news release.

I remember, as a child, watching my father’s morning shave routine in the mirror, and feeling truly inspired by the confident man I looked up to. He constantly encouraged me to chase my dreams, which is why I am excited to be part of Braun’s mission to give men the same confidence to go out and face greatness every day.

Guess Wilson won’t be growing a beard any time soon. Actually, in the ad below, it looks like Wilson doesn’t have any stubble before he starts shaving.